Will not omit Taj suddenly…No one can change history: Mamata

Image Credit: The Indian Express

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the omission of the Taj Mahal from the state tourism department’s booklet titled “Famous Destinations of Bengal”. In a statement on Wednesday, Banerjee said, “No one can change history. Taj Mahal is a world-renowned heritage site and it cannot be excluded from the list of famous destinations in India.”

Banerjee’s comments come in response to criticism from opposition parties over the exclusion of the Taj Mahal from the booklet. The state’s BJP unit had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of trying to rewrite history and promote its own agenda by leaving out the iconic monument.

The state tourism department later clarified that the booklet was only meant to promote tourism in West Bengal and did not aim to promote any particular site or monument. The department also said that the Taj Mahal was not included in the booklet as it was not located in West Bengal.

However, Banerjee has emphasized that the Taj Mahal cannot be ignored in any discussion on Indian heritage and tourism. “We cannot suddenly omit the Taj Mahal from our cultural and historical narrative. It is a symbol of India’s rich past and its inclusion in any tourism booklet is essential,” she said.

The Taj Mahal is one of India’s most iconic monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the white marble mausoleum attracts millions of tourists from around the world every year.

RE-reported from the story originally published in The Indian Express